Chapter 6 - A quest arrives

The Tower was easy to spot from any direction of the city because of how high above the clouds it stretched. It was so tall in fact, that in all the years that it’s been there, nobody had seen the top of it.

I approached the plaza, which was the immediate circle around the base of the tower. Once I saw the wooden shell surrounding the first couple meters of it, I knew I was close.

That wooden structure was pretty impressive on Istoria’s end, they thought of that a few years after the Tower’s arrival. The wooden shell acted as a watchtower built with stairs and multiple layers where city guards alternated by the hour.

It had a wide spiral staircase and balcony for the guards to stand. If you stood at just the right angle, you would be able to see them watching over the city with their bored expressions and constant yawns.

Running up to the entrance I heard the heavy footsteps of metal grieves and armour rattle as adventurers crossed inside the Tower.

I should probably stick to my usual place today, getting new weapons doesn’t mean I should get cocky.

Standing outside the Towers doors, I hesitated. I was just a human, nothing stronger than a regular person. Even so, I had to fight, I had to enter the Tower and keep my promise to Ellios.

Along with the two rings, the salesman threw in an attachment so that I could keep them on my belt. It acted as a sheath for them, which I placed along my lower back.

Not very heavy, and they don’t look all that strong either… What do I even call these?

Suddenly a screen of light appeared in front of my eyes.

{User has entered the Tower, the system is now operational}

The blades had a noticeable aura around them that grabbed my attention. It was a subtle light that highlighted their features.

{Chakram's identified}

“Wh-what the hell?!”

I dropped the rings and stumbled back, landing on my tailbone. The floating screen of light immediately vanished the moment the rings left my sight.

“Were those floating words real? That’s never happened before…maybe I’m just imagining things.”

I couldn’t get it out of my mind though, the strange name I saw hover over the blades. My lips moved in unison with my thoughts as I tried to pronounce the strange word.

“Charums? Chak…Chakrom?”

My curiosity got the better of me and I lifted them off the ground. The floating words didn’t appear and a sigh escaped my mouth.

“Sigh… I guess I was just losing it for a second there. Too bad~”

Still, I wonder what these things are called.

{Twin Chakram Blades identified}

My eyes widened but that time, I wasn’t as freaked out. Enthusiasm beamed from my eyes as I observed the screen from close up.

“Chak…rams? Is that what these are called…incredible! So whatever this is, is real after all. Some kind of magic maybe?”

I waved my arms and tried to hit the screen of light but my hand passed through it. It was like trying to grab air, it only distorted the image of where my hand touched.

“What is this?”

Suddenly the honey-soaked voice of a child entered my mind.

{User has attempted to use appraisal on system}

{The System is a personal tool used to translate the world’s knowledge and assist in growth}

“Huh a child, who is that speaking?”

Translate the world, what does that mean? And assist in growth, I assume that this thing isn't saying it wants me to be taller either right?

“Growth must mean something else then…maybe my strength?”

{Correct}

There it is again! Wait a minute he answers whenever I speak to him, does that mean he belongs to me?

“What strength did you mention before?”

{Rei Alos Level 0}

My name and level 0…This must be some sort of ranking system then right, I’ve never heard of magic doing something like this before.

My face brimmed with excitement, I’m sure that if anyone were to see it I would have looked like a goofy child to them.

“An unheard-of skill that can measure my strength in numbers…no matter how I look at it, this seems like a rare skill. It might even be, a unique skill?”

My excitement had fully emerged and turned my mouth into one large curve. It took everything in my power just to convince myself not to jump up and down with excitement.

Unique skills were something so rare that most people never got the chance to see one up close. Unlike regular skills which were quite common, a unique skill was specific to one person alone. In other words, it was a one-of-a-kind ability.

A handful of the top adventurers in Istoria had them and that is what made them sought-after assets. There were even rumours that wars had been fought over people with unique skills before. So my little outburst was pretty justified.

Some people gained simple abilities like being able to summon ice at the wave of their hand, without needing to chant a word or cast spells. While others gained monstrous abilities like being able to summon enough power to demolish an entire castle with their stare alone.

The possibilities were endless, which only led me to one question above all else.

“What kind of power do I get?”

{User has not yet set a name for System}

A name, is that a requirement? I suppose since he has a voice it would be pretty weird to refer to him as a system…but what do you call a talking voice in your head that you can’t see?

Thinking back to the stories my father read to me, only one name came to mind. It was the name of a mighty adventurer that watched over his teammates and provided knowledge to them, as well as strength. One of my personal favourites that I made him read over and over again.

“Alright kid, since you’ll be looking over my shoulder, there’s only one name to give you. Please take care of me, Uriel.”

{Registration complete}

Since the greetings were taken care of, I only wanted to learn as much about my skills as I could. What it did, how powerful it made me, everything!

“Uriel, what did you mean by translating the world for me exactly?”

{System acts as a tool to translate information and abilities that the User wouldn’t be able to acknowledge without a Gift}

I was hoping that this skill meant that Ellios was maybe wrong but if Uriel’s saying it too then I guess I’ll have to believe it. I'm nothing but a giftless human.

“So then how am I able to have you then, without a Gift I shouldn’t be able to have a skill in the first place?”

{A Gift has been detected within the user’s body}

I’m so confused! One moment I'm told something, and then the next I’m told another… So which is, am I powerless or not?!

“Explain yourself.”

{Gift was bestowed upon User by subject; Ellios, before losing consciousness}

I grasped my chest and clenched my teeth with a bitter smile.

I tried to think of something appropriate to say but no words came to mind, the only thought that I could latch on to was that of his last words to me.

So that warmth I felt when I got knocked out, it was him. How could I deserve something this important?

“I don’t know how it's possible but…I’ll take care of it. I’ll keep fighting so that I can learn what this all means.”

If Uriel is going to assist me in getting stronger, then it means I’ll need to start hunting some monsters. Funks are pretty much the only thing I can fight right now but something tells me they won’t be enough.

{A new quest has been received}

{Quest: Trial of beginnings}

It was as if Uriel responded to my intentions, the quest and its details appeared in front of me with perfect timing. It almost felt like cheating.

“You’re already shaping up to be pretty useful, Uriel. What’s this quest thingy, it looks important?”

{Quest details: Head to the marked area on the map to commence the quest}

Suddenly a map of the area appeared in the corner of my peripheral, it displayed every tree and route in the area. Whenever I focused on the map it would enlarge and display the information in perfect detail.

It looked like all my hard work from the last two weeks had been printed out on a map. The corners of the map didn’t extend past a certain point, the exact area I never ventured out of.

It’s showing everywhere I’ve been before, so will it mark areas I discover too? These blindspots on the map must be where I haven’t been before.

A red marker flashed ahead of me, in the blanked-out area of the map. It wasn’t too far but something about venturing into unknown territory put me on edge.

“I guess I’ll have to follow your lead, Uriel. I’m ready.”

The marker disappeared as I approached a mess of tangled trees that knotted over one another. I approached them and the trees pulled away, revealing a swirling portal at its centre. The branches and vegetation formed a frame around the swirling blue portal.

It looked familiar, the moment I saw it my eyes bulged open and fear struck my legs. I couldn't move any closer to it.

It’s a dungeon…why has another dungeon appeared on the first floor?

Not even top adventurers went into dungeons alone, especially ones so weak that they couldn’t kill a Funk without multiple hits!

{Will the User forfeit the Quest?}

{Yes or No}

It gives me the option to not go through with it. That would be the safer option but…

My eyes were locked between the words hovering in front of me. Every fibre of my being screamed at the yes option but a small fraction of me wouldn’t allow my mouth to form the words.

Gulp

“No...I have to do this.”

The quest had already begun and I had just taken on the first challenge. I declared my answer and the screens disappeared, allowing me to continue.

To overcome adversity, one must be willing to sacrifice everything.

“Let’s begin.”